Fri Sep 26 11:33:46 2008

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Roddick lands in semis; Gonzo falls in Beijing

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Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick snuck into the semifinals, while defending champion Fernando Gonzalez was among Friday's quarterfinal upset victims at the $524,000 China Open.

The second-seeded Roddick dropped the first set before charging back for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over fellow former top-ranked star Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain on the hardcourts at Beijing Tennis Center. The massive-serving American unloaded 23 aces, compared to only one for Ferrero, on his way to beating the "Mosquito" in 1 hour, 47 minutes.

The 26-year-old Roddick, who is now 39-13 for the year, is seeking his third ATP title of 2008.

The American Roddick's semifinal opponent here on Saturday will be speedy 137th-ranked German Bjorn Phau, who stunned a third-seeded Gonzalez 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday. The Chilean "Gonzo" defeated Spaniard Tommy Robredo in last year's finale here and captured a silver medal at the Olympic Games right here in Beijing just last month.

The other semi will pit seventh-seeded German Rainer Schuettler against Israeli Dudi Sela, as the Wimbledon semifinalist Schuettler ousted fourth- seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while the dangerous Sela knocked out a sixth-seeded Robredo 6-4, 6-1 in 79 minutes. Sela, who stunned top-seeded world No. 5 Spaniard David Ferrer here on Thursday, is trying to become the first Israeli man to reach a final since Harel Levy turned the trick in 2000.

The 2008 Beijing titlist will earn $85,000.